The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-09-17
Selett Storg.
A BARGEE'S SWEETHEART
Eron, Mllrrnnla Manazine.

fToW .HH'faB -N'ty''~'''''
The three-forty-fye horse cay, or tram as
they call it there, had just gone jingling
down the white road to Swintop, which ran
at the bottom of the aeld lying in front of
the Pendlebury Children's Hospital. A
well-knit young fellow was walking up one
of the little gravel paths that lead from the
sweep Of tho carriage drive between the
square grass plots to the patients visitors
door," in the side of the long central corri-
doy, one blazing September afternoon. His
moieskin trousers and corduroy Yaisteoat,
made with sleeves and faced with dark
brown velyeteen, open below the top button,
over a blue guernsey, made one at once feel
sure that neither horses nor boats were
totally unfamiliar to him. And lastl y, the
sealskin cap, which he took off and twirled
in his great hands as he reached the door,
would let any one who has ever walked on
the towing path Of q canal into the secret
of his apparently double occupation,
John Thrupp was o bargee, and fine
strapping young fellow; an easy six feet in
his blue worsted socks; deep in the chest
and without an ounce of superfuous fat
anywhere.
If his brow was low, with the hair that
fell oyer it coarse and tan-colored, it was
broad and Hstood upright and the eyes
under it were good, honest blue ones, The
clean.shaved lips met firmly over two rows
of strong, white teeth, In a jaw heavy but
not brutal. No one could call John Thrupp
a lout, if he was bargee; and though he
stopped little from the shoulders, it wasn't
the outcome of slouchy nature in the man,
bat simply because he could, and didif ne
cessary, drag by q rope over his shoulder
heavy numbering barge that would puzzle
many an upright Guardsman to stir. So
far from being lout, John Thrupp had
two, at least, of the indispensable attributes
of a gentleman. He was man of his
word, and he had a love of cleanliness
inside and out. That he paid his way-if
only along the towing path Of . capal-apd
worked as hard as he had strength for,
were, think, two other very gentlemanly
habits; but many folks may think that am
quite wrong about this, and as want only
to tell you plain tale, we won't go into so
disputed subject any further. Mind you,
| do not believe that all bargees are honest
or even clean-I don't, indeed; but this
particular bargee was.
He loved his cold plunge in the Broads
at daylight, told the truth as unvaryingly,
and enjoyed clean shave as keenly as any
gentleman stroke in Varsity eight
Well This bargee turned shade paler,
in spite of his six feet and broad shoulders,
as he caught sight of the rows of white beds
with the red,jacketed little forms in them
In the wards or either side the path, Fl e
moistened his lips and swallowed little
nervously as he rung bell beside the open
doorway that startled him by changing just
over his head 4 brisk voice said:
"Come in; come straight on" and doing
so, John found himself, after passing
through small receiving room in the long
slate-payed corridor, with its fifty pale
windows and double sets of glass doors
opening into the long branching pavilion
wards. The corridor looked intermiuable,
and the shafts Of sunlight, slanting through
the high windows on the right, seemed to
CUT Ills SFcdb icuStu iutO uidSUudl StflpS.
Two doctors, in loose jackets and with
bare heads, were standing at the far end
talking; but their voices did not reach to
where John stood, little dazed and at a
loss how to proceed. The same brisk voice,
now close behind him, remarked:
"Well?" and paused.
John turned, and saw a blue-gowned,
white-aproned figure, in high white cap,
sitting on polished bench against the dark
wali-lookipg for all the world like blue
and-white china tile set up against dark
oak shelf. The nurse-for it was nurse
or at least probationer (and not tile)
had pencil and book in her hands, and
without looking up went on rapidly:
''Who to see? How many2 Only your
self? No infection of any sort at home, I
hope; whom did you say p glancing at last
up at poor Johns puzzled face, with her
pencil ready to put cross against the
patient be should ask for.
"a little girlj at Least young girl, said
John. @Nancy Battsen," adding little
unsteadily, "she was hurt-here, touching
his own broad chest.
Hayward Ward-in the Special y replied
the nurse, getting up and standing by John
to point up the corridor. $50 straight up
to the statue and turn into the glass doors
to the left, under the lantern in the roof"
@Thank you, ma'am," said John, going